Hamsters

Caring for a pet is one of the pleasures of childhood. It develops responsibility
and a sense of pride in having the care of a living being in your hands. Not only
that, but it is fun!

Owning a hamster is often a first real test of whether or not a child is ready for
owning a pet that requires more care, such as a cat or a dog. Hamsters need more
care than fish, but they are able to handle being “forgotten” for a day or two without
harm (unlike cats or dogs). They are also small and not intimidating for a child.

Caring for a hamster can show important lessons, such as the fact that pets are not
toys. Children need to learn that a pet is a living, breathing creature that requires
gentleness and nurturing in order to live.

They need to learn how to play gently and how to be compassionate, and having a pet
certainly helps with that process.

Hamsters are good at teaching children how to put the need of others before themselves.
For example, children need to learn that hamsters need to be allowed to sleep, even
when the child would rather play. They can be taught that hamsters need not be handled
too often, and just because the child is not tired, the hamster might be.

Hamsters can teach a child to watch for signs of fear or fatigue, and these can be
wonderful lessons to apply to “real life” for the child.

Parents need to realize and accept, however, that kids will be kids. Parents will
need to make sure that food is bought when needed and that their child is actually
performing the duties necessary for having a pet. Parents need to make sure that
fresh water and other materials are provided, along with routine cage cleaning and
opportunities for exercise. If the child is very young, the parent will be solely
responsible for the care of the hamster and only allow supervised interaction between
the child and the pet.

Since the parent is involved in the process of caring for the hamster, it really
does help if the parent is enthusiastic about the new pet. If you, as a parent,
are not comfortable with handling a hamster or any other aspect of caring for one,
then perhaps a hamster is not the right choice until a child is much older and can
do the majority of tending to the animal with minimal supervision.

Aside from the lessons learned by caring for a small animal, having children around
hamsters can provide many other lessons as well. Having a beloved hamster die can
be a difficult lesson, but it helps children deal with an issue on a smaller scale
something they will have to deal with later on in life on a much larger scale. Openly
discussing issues about things affecting your pet, such as illness and death, with
a child will make it easier to have these discussions later in life- when the issue
is much more serious.

One final note about children and hamsters – two of the causes of sudden death in
hamsters are starvation and dehydration. Many of these instances have happened,
presumably, when a child was the primary caretaker for a hamster. Parents must take
steps to make sure that their children are not neglecting their pets. Make the learning
process meaningful for children and pleasant for the pet.

Selecting a Hamster

Selecting a hamster is a very important process. Choosing the wrong hamster can
make you regret your decision to have a hamster in the first place!

First, decide on the breed you want. While temperaments can vary from individual
to individual, there are some general tendencies for each breed.

Syrian hamsters

These hamstersare the largest breed of hamsters kept as pets and are not as quick
as dwarf hamsters. This makes them easier (in general) for children to handle. They
calm down as they age, so they are less likely to jump out of your hands when they
are older. Syrians are more likely to hold still for and get used to petting and
cuddling than dwarf hamsters. Keep in mind that Syrians are very territorial and
must be kept one to a cage.

They reach six to eight inches when full grown and come in a variety of colors.

Chinese hamsters

Also known as the striped hamster and rat-like hamster, these dwarf hamsters can
be nervous, and untamed adults are usually difficult to tame. Once tamed, however,
they tend to become easily handled.

They reach four to five inches upon becoming adults. They are greyish-brown with
a black stripe with a silky fur.

Roborovskii's hamsters

This is the smallest species of pet hamster. They are also the fastest and move
very quickly. They are so fast, in fact, that they can be difficult to handle. They
are not highly recommended for children since they are so quick and not easily handled.

They only reach about two inches in length when full grown. They are sandy brown
with white markings.

Winter White and Campbell's hamsters

These species are rather easy to tame, provided they get plenty of human interaction.
At one time, these two species were considered one species, but it has since been
discovered that they are not the same.

These hamsters reach approximately 4 inches in length when adults.

Gender does not seem to play affect in the temperament, so the gender of a hamster
is not a concern unless you plan to breed them.

Watch the hamster as it interacts with the store employee or other handler. If the
hamster seems very nervous or bites, he is not a good candidate for becoming a new
member of the family. You want to find a hamster that is curious and not afraid
of people.

Check to make sure the hamster appears to be in good health and does not have any
symptoms, such as a runny nose, discharge from the eyes, or wet fur near the tail.
These can all be signs of disease.

Look at the condition of the housing of your hamster. Make certain that the housing
is clean and free of a strong smell of ammonia. Dirty cages cause stress and disease
in hamsters, so even if your hamster is not sick at the moment, it might become ill
after coming home due to the added stress of a new environment. Don't take the chance.

Finally, choose a younger hamster. A hamster that is older is often much more difficult
to tame and can have problems adjusting to a new environment. A younger hamster
will have more years to enjoy being a welcome addition to your family.